Chapter 123: “Oh... You Almost Got Me There”

Akane blinked rapidly, her red sweater rising and falling with quicker breaths.

She could feel the heat creeping up her neck, matching the faint flush still lingering on her cheeks from earlier revelations.

The casual way Chiyo had dropped the bomb, and now Rin brushing it off... it left her head spinning.

Hanako recovered faster on the surface, forcing a bright, slightly too-loud laugh that echoed awkwardly in the modest space.

"Ha ha ha... you’re so funny, Chiyo! That’s a good joke, right???"

She laughed with forced enthusiasm, her voice lilting upward at the end as she waved one hand in the air dismissively.

Her high ponytail swayed with the motion, brushing against Rin’s arm and sending a small jolt through her. She scooted a tiny bit closer to him on the couch, her knee pressing against his thigh as if seeking reassurance. The laugh continued for a beat too long, her dark eyes darting between Rin and Chiyo, searching for any crack in their expressions.

Inside, her stomach twisted. Mutants? Rin? The idea refused to settle, clashing violently with the image of the calm, slightly clueless boy she had been crushing on. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Chiyo burst into laughter herself, the sound light and bubbly, like wind chimes in a breeze.

She doubled over slightly in her chair, small hands clutching her stomach as her ponytail bounced wildly. Her cheeks flushed pink with mirth, eyes crinkling at the corners in genuine amusement.

"I got you... don’t mind me!"

She waved both hands in front of her face, still giggling softly as she straightened up.

The playful sparkle returned to her eyes, but there was a sly edge to her grin now, like a cat that had successfully knocked something fragile off a shelf.

She leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs and swinging one foot lightly, clearly enjoying the chaos she had stirred.

Akane let out a long, shaky sigh, her shoulders slumping as the tension drained from her body.

She ran a hand through her vibrant red hair, pushing it back from her face, the motion causing her red sweater to ride up slightly and reveal a sliver of smooth midriff.

"Oh... you almost got me there."

Her voice carried a mix of relief and lingering suspicion. She glanced sideways at Rin again, studying his relaxed posture—

the way his muscular arms rested casually along the couch, the faint smile still playing on his lips.

Part of her wanted to press for more, but the atmosphere felt too fragile.

Instead, she forced a small smile, though her fingers continued twisting the hem of her sweater nervously.

Rin gave a subtle glance toward Chiyo, his blue eyes flicking over to her for just a heartbeat.

The look was quick, almost imperceptible to the others, but loaded with meaning: Don’t push it. He didn’t want them knowing.

Not about Nara. Not about the raw, uncontrolled power he had wielded that night.

The monsters’ terrified screeches still echoed faintly in his memory sometimes—the way their forms had scattered like leaves in a storm when his parents’ mutated silhouettes rose against the moonlight.

He shifted again on the couch, his broad frame causing both Akane and Hanako to adjust slightly, their bodies naturally leaning into his warmth.

The faint scent of soap still clung to his skin, mixing with the lingering musk in the room.

All this while, the apartment hummed with quiet activity around them.

In the kitchen, Muganda resumed slicing fruit, her powerful thighs flexing as she moved with efficient grace.

Juice from a ripe peach dripped down her fingers, and she licked it off absentmindedly, her dark eyes occasionally drifting toward the couch with quiet amusement.

Yuri had emerged from the bedroom hallway, now dressed in an oversized black shirt that hung loosely off one pale shoulder, her gothic red eyes curious as she leaned against the wall.

Karen remained curled near Dracula on the far end of the couch section, her small frame pressed close as she tried—and failed—to follow the game on his tablet.

Inferna stayed in her corner, arms crossed under her heavy breasts, her tanned tail swaying with clear irritation every time Akane or Hanako shifted closer to Rin.

Outside in the hallway, the atmosphere shifted.

Chris on his way to Satoru’s door, holding a neatly woven basket filled with fresh fruit—bright oranges, glossy apples, and a small bunch of grapes that caught the hallway lighting in soft gleams.

His golden hair framed his androgynous face elegantly, thin glasses perched on his nose as he adjusted the basket under one arm.

The light coat draped over his shoulders swayed gently with his movements.

He had seen the girls enter Rin’s place earlier and felt a quiet pull to join the neighboring gathering.

Or perhaps just to say hi.

Hinata’s presence next door had lingered in his thoughts—the flush on her cheeks when they met in the hallway, the way her ponytail had swayed when she spoke.

Back inside Rin’s living room, the conversation picked up again in lighter tones, but the undercurrent of secrets remained.

Chiyo kept stealing playful glances at her brother, while Akane and Hanako exchanged meaningful looks, their bodies still warmly pressed against Rin’s sides.

The afternoon light continued its slow crawl across the floor, highlighting the subtle tensions and unspoken truths weaving through the group.

Rin maintained his calm facade, but his mind lingered on that Nara night—the mutants, the fear, the power.

He hoped Chiyo would drop it.

For now, the girls seemed willing to laugh it off, but he could feel their curiosity simmering just beneath the surface.

Hanako’s hand brushed his arm accidentally as she reached for a pillow, sending a small spark through him.

Akane’s thigh remained firmly against his, warm and insistent. The visit stretched on, filled with chatter and side glances, the modest apartment holding its breath for whatever might slip out next.

Muganda brought over a plate of sliced fruit, setting it on the coffee table with a soft clink.

The sweet scent mingled with everything else, grounding the scene in something deceptively normal.

Chiyo reached for a piece first, popping it into her mouth with a satisfied hum.

Akane followed, her fingers lingering near Rin’s as she took an apple slice.

Hanako smiled softly, though her eyes kept flicking back to Chiyo with quiet wonder.

The afternoon wore on, golden and deceptively peaceful, secrets tucked carefully behind smiles and laughter.